British Composer Awards winners announced

Julian Anderson has won both the Orchestral and Liturgical categories at this year’s British Composer Awards, hosted by composer Michael Berkeley.

Anderson's work Fantasias took the Orchestral award while his Bell Mass won the Liturgical title. He now has four British Composer Awards, having won two in previous years.

There were also awards for Anthony Payne, who landed the Chamber prize for his String Quartet No. 2, William Sweeney, whose Sonata for Cello and Piano was recognised in the Instrumental Solo or Duo category, and Graham Fitkin’s vocal and orchestral work PK, which won the Outreach award.

Lucy Pankhurst's piece In Pitch Black – written to mark the centenary of the Pretoria Pit disaster – triumphed in the Wind or Brass section. Elsewhere, Huw Watkins landed the vocal trophy for his Five Larkin Songs, and John Barber was presented with the Community or Educational Project prize for Consider the Lilies.

International awards were handed out to Danish composer Bent Sørensen for his piano concerto La Mattina and Shanghai-born Wenjing Wang for the student competition.

Chair of the British Composer Awards, Sarah Rodgers, said: ‘This year’s results give accolades to a wonderfully wide sweep of British and international talent.’

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